1. The Legislative Branch
US Government: Mrs. Lacks

2. The Legislative Branch
The “first branch” (J. Madison) or Peoples’ Branch
Article 1
Comprised of Bicameral Congress
Called the “first branch” (J. Madison) or Peoples’ Branch
Article 1 deals with the structure, powers, and operation of Congress - The Constitution is both highly specific (enumerated powers) and extremely vague (implied/elastic) about the powers that Congress may exercise.
Comprised of Bicameral Congress
Senate: based on equality (2 reps from each state)
House of Representatives: based on population (from 1 to 53 from each state)
535 total legislators + 6 non-voting members

3. US House of Representatives
Structure:
435 voting members + 6 non-voting members
Very hierarchal (definite chain of command)
MCs develop specialization of knowledge from working on their specific committees
Non-voting members: a delegate representing the federal district of Washington D.C., a resident commissioner representing Puerto Rico, and one delegate for each of the other four permanently inhabited US Territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.

4. US House of Representatives
Number of Reps per state varies based on population
Powers granted only to H of Reps:
Have the power to impeach the President
Have the authority to initiate all tax and revenue bills
Elects the President if no one gets 270 electoral votes
Confirms VP if vacant

5. US House of Representatives
Constitutional requirements for Members:
2 year terms
Candidate must be 25 years old, have lived in the US for at least 7 yrs, and have lived in the district their representing for at least one year

6. House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
2nd in Presidential line of succession behind VP
Head of majority party
Actively works to set his or her party’s legislative agenda
Technically doesn’t have to be an elected member of the House, but it always has been
Elected on the first day of each new session of Congress (he who receives a majority of votes wins; sworn in by Dean of the House, House’s longest-serving member)

7. House of Representatives
House Majority & Minority Leaders
Floor leaders of their parties
Don’t typically use these titles although the media does… instead call themselves Republican Leader and Democratic Leader

8. House of Representatives
Majority & Minority Whip
Manages his party’s legislative program on the floor
Keeps track of potential # of votes

9. House Standing Committees
Committee on Agriculture
Committee on Appropriations
Committee on Armed Services
Committee on the Budget
Committee on Education and the Workforce
Committee on Energy and Commerce
Committee on Ethics
Committee on Financial Services
Committee on Foreign Affairs
Committee on Homeland Security
Committee on House Administration
Committee on the Judiciary
Committee on Natural Resources
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Committee on Rules
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Committee on Small Business
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Committee on Ways and Means
Joint Economic Committee
Joint Committee on Taxation
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

10. House Rules Time limits on debate (1hour per member)
Usually more partisan bills
Use of discharge petitions (after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, any House member may petition to have it brought to the floor)
Any amendment added to a bill must be similar in nature

11. House of Representatives
116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019 – Jan 3, 2021)
199 Republicans, 235 Democrats

12. US Senate Structure: 100 voting members (2 per state)
Loosely structured
No strict chain of command
Majority and minority parties must share power
Each member is on multiple committees (less development of knowledge specialization)

13. Senate Created to guard against the “tyranny of the masses”
originally appointed by state legislatures; 17th Amendment changed this during the Progressive Era
Powers granted only to the Senate:
Foreign policy; ratifies treaties
Confirms presidential nominations (ambassadors, judges – Federal & Supreme Court, cabinet members & leaders within bureaucracy – ex. Head of National Park Service)

14. Senate Constitutional requirements for Senators: Six year terms
Candidate must be at least 30 yrs old; US citizen for 14 yrs; live in state for 1 year

15. Senate Vice President is the President of the Senate
Highest ranking member
Only votes when there’s a tie
Certifies votes of the Electoral College
Presides over all joint sessions of Congress

16. Senate
President Pro-tempore – highest ranking member of the Senate besides the Vice President
Next in line, behind the Speaker of the House, for the Presidency
Rules on points of order, appoints senators to committees, etc.
Elected by Senate (typically most senior member of the party in the majority)

17. Senate Senate Majority & Minority Leaders
Elected by their parties to be chief spokesperson
Manage the legislative and executive business of the Senate
Has priority to speak on the floor

18. Senate Senate Majority & Minority Whips Gather votes on major issues
Aka Assistant Majority & Minority Leaders

19. Senate Committees Standing
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans' Affairs
Joint
Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Joint Economic Committee
Special
Impeachment Trial Committee (Porteous) Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging

20. Senate Rules Offer any amendments to any bill
Unanimous consent agreements (with no objections a bill can be passed without debate or vote)
Filibuster
To hold the floor (talk as long as possible)
Purpose? Delay or block a vote on a bill
Rules?
End? Cloture (at least 60 out of 100 members vote to end)
he record for the longest individual speech goes to South Carolina's J. Strom Thurmond who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957

22. US Senate 116th Congress (Jan 3, 2019 – Jan 3, 2021)
53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, 2 Independents

23. The Legislative Branch